Chocolate-coating machine



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CHOCOLATE CCATINC MACHINE. I 110.601,21?. Patented 1V1a1.22,1898.

sf ik Witnesses: Inventor. I evI/Em der?, indd.

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(NdModel.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

1D. J. 11111111111111111111. HOOLATE COATING MAHINB.

110. 601,217. Patented Mar. 22, 1898.

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(No Model.)

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P. J. VANDERLINDA. CHOCOLATE COMING-MACHINE.

(No Model.)

Patented Mar. 22, 1898.

I nventor.

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UNITED K STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER J. VANDERLINDA, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

oHocoLATE-coArlNc MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,217, dated March 22, 1898.

Application filed June 11, 1894.` Serial No. 514,257. (No model.)

ing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a machine for coating cream centers, caramels, nuts, or any maa terial upon which chocolate or other similar coating is used; and its objects are, first, to provide a machine that will work continuously, covering a number of centers at each operation and will give to the coating the appearance of handwork; second, to economize the room necessarily occupied for chocolatecoating purposes; third,'to provide an endless bed with movable trays that when filled may be set aside andv replaced with empty ones, and, fourth, to provide a means of transferring the drippings of chocolate from the dripping-pan to the storage-tank. Iattain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a top plan of the 4working end of my machine. Fig. 2` is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the brush-frame in section and a portion of the end of the supporting-frame. Fig. tis a side elevation of the entire machine. Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section of the turn-table andthe cups. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the stationary chocolate-tank. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the secondary chocolatetank and its connections with the end of the tank cut away to show its water-chamber. Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-section of the same. Fig. 9 is a plan of the coating cup or trough. Fig. 10 is a transversev vertical section, Fig. 1l is a front elevation, and Fig. l2 is an end elevation, of the same. Fig. 13 is the` adjustable section of the track. Fig. 14 is an end of a trayupon a link, and Fig. 15 is a modified form of thecup and supporting-shelf.

Similar letters refer to similar parts thro ugh- .out the several views.

In the accompanying drawings, A is the main or supporting frame, and B is the brushframe, which is pivoted upon the shaft B', so thatk the upper end maybe made tooscillate to and from the main frame. The shaft B is journaled upon the end of the main frame near the foot, as in Fig. 2.

The upper end of the brush-frame is provided with two cross bars or girts D, having vertical apertures or bearings for the spiny dles E and placed a proper distance apart to receive the driving-gears E2 and allow them to revolve freely. These gears are secured to the spindles E by a spline or sliding key, as indicatedat e in Fig. l, so that the spindles may slide easily lengthwise through the gear-wheels While being revolved thereby. The lower ends of these spindles are supported in bearings in the sliding sash C in such a/'manner that they will turn freely therein and at the same time will be made to slide longitudinally up and down by the oscillations of the sash.

The sash is fitted to slide freely inways in the brush-frame and is vertically oscillated by the eccentric H through the medium of the (See v lever H2 and the connecting-rod H4. Figs. 2 and 3.) The eccentric H is driven upon the shaft H, which in turn is driven by the sprocket chain and wheels B3 from the shaft B and is so formed that it will cause the sash to rise and fall twice with each revolution of the shaft, so that when the brushframe drops back to the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3 the brushes will drop down `into the chocolate-basin K and take up the chocolate, and when the frame is drawn up to the main frame, as indicated by the solid lines in Fig. 3, the brushes will be carried up over the rim of the chocolate-basin and down into the coating-cup P', and it is so timed that the brushes will always be up, so as to pass freely over the rims of the basin and cups when in transit from either position to the other and will make the complete downward and upward stroke while the frame is standing motionless in each position.

The brush-frame B is made to oscillate by means of the crankb through the medium of the connecting-rod b', which is attached at one end to the crank and at the other to the spiral spring b2, the opposite end of the spiral spring being attached to the brush-frame in such position and the spring of such tensile strength that the brush-frame will be drawn .to position againstv the main frame A when the crank has' just passed the quarter, and

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the spring will then expand and allow the crank to carry around to the opposite center and nearly back to the opposite quarter before the frame will be allowed to drop back from the perpendicular to the position indicated in Fig. t and by the dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The shaft B is driven from the main shaft I' by means of the sprocket-chain B2, and the brushes F are made to revolve by means of a sprocket wheel and chain B4, transmitting motion from the shaft B to the bevel-gear G, which in turn drives the bevel-gear G, and with it the spindle E, which, through the lnedium of the gear-wheels E2, transmits its motion to the spindles E and causes the brushes to revolve continuously.

My appliance for carrying the stock to and from the brushes to receive the coating of chocolate consists of a turn-table having a series of cups P', supported by the yokes P4 at the ends of the arms P, the opposite ends of the arms being pivoted to the head Oi", which is secured to the vertical shaft O, (see Figs. l and 5,) which is supported in the vertical bearing O2 to t-urn freely, and to adjust its height I provide a collar O3, that I fasten securely to the shaft, and to prevent friction and avert the necessity of using oil as a lubricant, which is very objectionable at this place, I lnake a ball-bearing connection O4 between the two. To the lower end of this shaft I secure a miter-gear O', which is designed to mesh with and be driven by a corresponding miter-gear L' (see Figs. l and 2) on the shaft L.

The manner of revolving the shaft L is best shown in Fig. 4, where I show a ratchet-wheel i3 secured to this shaft and having the same number of teeth upon its periphery that there are arms I and so timed that each arm will come to position under the brushes simultaneously with bringing the brush-frame to a vertical position. This ratchet-wheel is operated by a pawl i?, also pivoted to the shaft L, as shown, and connected by means of the connecting-rod yL" with the crank on the main shaft I', so that each revolution of the main shaft will carry one arm away from and the next succeeding one to position under the brushes.

I provide a track Q for the support of the outer ends of the arms l), and for lessening the friction I insert antifriction-rollers l5 in bearings upon the lower side of the arms directly over the track.

I find that the most available form to construct my cups P' is to make two separate sides with the. ends bent at right angles, provided with slots I, and held together by screws I, as shown in Figs. 9 and lO, the top and bottom being left open for the introduction and discharge of the stock. )Vhen made in this form, I secure a rod Pf' to the side of the cups opposite the arms, with the ends projecting by the ends of the cups in position to be engaged by the sides I3 of the brush-frame when it approaches them and push the outer half toward the inner one. rlhe ends of this rod are bent at right angles and, passing across the end of the cup, work freely through the bearings I on the opposite halfof the cups, and to throw them apart I insert' a spi ral spring PG at each end. (See Figs. 10, ll, and 12.) This feature is intended to be operated only when the cup is adjacent to the brush-frame and is for the purpose of throwing the side springs P3 in the cups against the sides of the stock or centers IT and prevent them from turning while the brushes are coating them and to release them as soon as the brushes have been raised up off of them.

The appliance for holding the centers from dropping out of the cups while in transit from the place of filling to the place of discharge is a series of fingers P2, pivoted to the yokes I in position so that the fingers will stand immediately beneath the cups. The upper ends of the bodies that support the fingers are connected through the medium of the rods with the an gle-levers P3, which are held to position by the springs P5 until they reach the position over the transfer-trays N, directly opposite from the brush-frame. Vhen the eu ps are directly over the transferstrays, the arms drop down by the action of the eccentric s through the medium of the lever t and the standard @'14 upon the section Q of the track, which is a detached portion of the main track, and pivoted thereto, as at q, so that the opposite end may drop down, which is so timed as to occur at the instant that the cup^arms reach it and stop, and it is raised to position again before the arms start upon the next section of their revolution, the distance of drop being just sufficient to hold the cups in close proximity to the surface of the trays when the eccentric i7, through the medium of the lever il and the standard fils, will throw the angle-lever 1)"s over in such position that the fingers I2 will be drawn from under the cups and the stock will drop out upon the tray, the raising of the cup-arms taking place before the trays are carried from under them.

The trays N are supported upon endless sprocket-chains N andare driven by a ratchet i and pawl il", (see Figs. l and 4,) supported on the shaft M and driven from the crank on the shaft I3 by means of the connecting-rod it. The ratchet if is so constructed that it will require several motions of the pawl to move the width of a tray from under the cups, thus providing for storing several rows of coated centers upon each tray.

To secure the trays to thclinks ofthe chains, I place spring-bearings n a upon certain of the links in proper position, so that the journals n' on the trays may be readily pressed down between them or drawn up out of them. (See Figs. 4E and 14, both on Sheet 3 of the drawings.)

For the purpose of averting the danger of carrying the drippings of chocolate around to the trays I place one or more Scrapers Q,

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of rubber or othersuitable material, beneath'.

the cups, between the brush-frame and the trays, .in position to scrape the chocolate from the4 cups, and place a dripping-pan R around the front end and one side of the machine to catch the chocolate as it drops yfrom the cups.

The Scrapers Q3 arev secured to the pan R inv the line of travel from the brush-frame to the trays hereinbefore described. To keep thev chocolate flowing through this pan, I make v the pan hollow, as shown in section in Fig. 2,

and fill this hollow -portion with water and heat it with a gas-jet, as at T', or other suitable appliance, so thatv the chocolate will be kept warmenough-to flow freely without danger of burning on,and I place a receptacle R at the outer end of this pan (see Fig. 4) to catch the chocolate asit flows out, thepan being inclined downward toward said receptacle, so that the chocolate will iow into it freely. l v A My chocolate storing andV heating device consists of a stationarytank J, situated above 'the brush-frame, and a movable tank J', se-

cured to the brush-frame' above the brushes in position to receive the heated chocolate from the stationary tank and to discharge it in position tobe taken up by the brushes and transferred to the centers tol be coated. Both of these tanks are constructed with hollow,

walls and the space between filledwith water,

which may be heated by any of the known appliances-.as a gas-jet, a steam-pipe, &c.

to insure perfect fluidity ofthe chocolate without danger'of burning it. f l

To transfer the chocolate from the drippingpan receptacle R to the station ary tank J, Iv

place an idler r' into ,the receptacle and pass a belt r therefrom to and over the tank, as

shown in Figs. 1 and 4, with Scrapers R2 to scrape the chocolate from the belt in position to flow into the tank.- This belt is driven from the shaft B'bymeans of the belt b5from the pulley B5 over the shaft b. In Fig. l J2 represents a drain from this belt to the tank, and 57 represents the driving of an idler by means of a gear-wheel, so that the belt here passes between two pulleys, as shown in Fig. 4. The-shelf u, secured to the brush-frame in Fig. 3, is designed'to pass between the bottom of the cupandthe supporting-frame P2 and supportjthe centers while they are beingy the shaft B in position to raise and lower the Y rods S', which are supported at each side of the brush-frame, as in Fig. 2, in position to .standl directlyT under andto raise and lower the yoke or rod S2, to which the valves are secured. Though I do not restrict myself to the use of this particular form and construction of valve, I find it the cheapest and most available valve for this purpose.

I find that the most available means of cooling the chocolate as it is being coated upon the centers, so as to prevent dripping when leaving the brushes, is to place a small rotary blower, as V in Fig. 3, in a suitable Yposition and connectit with the brushframe by means of a iieXible pipe V and a'thin broad nozzle V2 in position to throw a blast of air into the cups during and after the time the brushes are coating the chocolate upon the centers.

In Fig. 15 I show another form of my transfer-cup. In Kthis form the two ends of the cups are secured to the yokes P4 by means of the supports, the same as is shown in connection with my. ordinary cups, and the sides are each pivoted from its upper edge to the upper outside corners of the ends, so that the .lower edges are free to swing out and in. I

bend the lower edges of the sides nearly to right anglesfor a short distance back to form a base or bottom to the cups to support the centers, and above these bottoms I secure the springs 102, hereinbefore mentioned, of any available form, to 'prevent the centers from turning when being acted 'upon by Ithe brushes. With this cup I use a neutral point- IOO spring p10, that holds its sides in position, so

that the centers will rest upon the bottoms of the cups and the springs p2 will not engagethem, and I dispense with the fingers P2, but use their supporting-frame to swing the sides simultaneously by means of the connectingrod p12, passing from below the pivot-line of the inner side and attached to the outerside at a point above the pivot-line, as shown, so that when the angle-lever P3 is thrown forward both sides of the cup will swing open, as shown by the outer dotted lines. To throwthe sides together so that the springs PS will engage the centers when being acted upon by the brushes, I place a gage fu. uponV the shelf u in position to press .against the outer side when the brush-frame comes up to position, and will force both sides together lby means of the connecting-rod p12 to the position indicated by the inner dotted lines. For the purpose of throwing this cup slightly open when in position to be iilled I place an eccentric t, a lever i12, and a standard @'15 (see Figs. 1, 2, and 4) in position to act upon the angle-le'- vers p4. to throw them forward with the desired results.

The principal office of the shelf u is to carry chocolate toand place it upon the lower sides or bottoms ofthe centers at the same time that the brushes are coating the upper portions. l

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claiml as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patentofv the United States, is-

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l. In a chocolate-coating machine, a permanent frame, a horizontally-oscillating frame pivoted thereto, a vertically-reciprocating sash, and revolving brushes supported in said oscillating frame, arms and cups made to rotate to and from the brushes, and an endless chain of trays for receiving and delivering the coated stock, substantially as, and for lthe purpose set forth.

2. In a chocolate-coating machine, a permanent frame, a horizontally-oscillating vertical frame pivoted at the lower end to the permanent frame and having a series of verticallyreciprocating revolving brushes journaled at the upper end, and a turn-table having arms and cups for carrying the stock to and from the brushes, substantially as described and shown.

3. In achocolate-eoating machine, apermanent frame, a horizontally-oscillatin g vertical frame pivoted at the lower end to the permanent frame, vertically-reciprocatin g revolving brushes journaled at its upper end, sprocketwheels, a sprocket-chain, and a train of gear for revolving said brushes, a sash, an eccentric, and a connecting-rod for transmitting a vertical reciprocating motion to the brushes, a crank, an elastic and a connecting-rod for oscillating the brush-frame, and a turn-table having arms and cups for carrying the stock to and from the brushes, substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.

Ll. In a chocolate-coating machine a permanent frame, a horizontally-oscillatin g vertical frame pivoted thereto, a series of verticallyreciprocating revolving brushes journaled in the upper end of said frame, a turn-table, arms pivoted to said turn-table at one end, and provided at the other end with yokes, cups in said yokes for carrying the stock to and from the brushes, and fingers pivoted to the arms to be thrown to and from under the cups to hold and release the centers, and an eccentric, a lever, and a spring for operating said fingers substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a chocolate-coating machine a permanent frame, an oscillating brush-frame pivoted thereto, brushes supported and made to reciprocate longitudinally, and to revolve in said frame, a turn-table having arms and cups for carrying the stock to and from the brushes, a track for supporting said arms, one section of which is pivoted to rise and fall at one end, a lever and an eccentric for raising and lowering said section, an endless bed traveling from said turn-table, and detachable trays, upon said bed, for carrying the coated stock from the cups, substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a chocolate-coatin g machine a permanent frame, an oscillating brush-frame, revolving brushes in said frame, a turn-table having arms, cups and fingers for carrying the stock to and from the brushes a crank, a connecting-rod, a pawl and a ratchet having teeth to correspond with the number of arms on the turn-table for revolving the turn table, and a track for supporting the arms, substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a chocolate-coating machine, a permanent frame, a brush-frame and brushes for coating the chocolate on the stock, a turntable having arms and cups for carrying the stock to and from the brushes, an endless bed and trays for carrying the coated stock away from the cups, and a crank, a ratchet and a pawl for driving the bed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In a chocolate-coating machine a permanent frame, an oscillating brush-frame pivoted thereto, reciprocating and revolving brushes in said frame, a turn-table having arms, cups and fingers for carrying the stock to and from the brushes, and a shelf upon the brush-frame to pass between the stock and the fingers when the stock is being coated, substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a chocolate-coating machine a permanent frame, an oscillating brush-frame pivoted thereto, brushes journaled in said frame, a turn-table having arms and cups for carrying the stock to and from the brushes, and a dripping-pan, substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.

10. In achocolate-coating machine a permanent frame, a brush-frame pivoted thereto, brushes made to revolve, and to reciprocate therein, cups for carrying the stock to and from the brushes,a chocolate storage and heating tank above the machine a chocolate-receiving tank on the brush-frame in position to discharge chocolate to the brushes, a dripping-pan, and a belt for conveying the drippings from the dripping-pan to the heatingtank substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.

ll. In a chocolate-coating machine a permanent frame, a brush-frame pivoted thereto, transfer-cups, a storage-tank, a receivingtank, and a receiving-basin for the chocolate, a dripping-pan under the transfer-cups and a conveyer-belt therefrom to the heating-tank, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

l2. In achocolate-coating maehine,aperma nent frame, a brush-frame pivoted thereto, brushes arranged to revolve and to reciprocate longitudinally, a turn-table arms pivoted to said turn-table, transfer-cups divided longitudinally and a rod and spring for acting with the brush-frame to throw the cups together and apart, and a series of small wire springs at the bottom of the cups to engage the centers to prevent them from turning when being coated, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

13. In a chocolate-coatin g machine a permanent frame, a brush-frame, storage-tanks, a turn-table having arms pivoted thereto and transfer-cups divided longitudinally, a rod and springs to act with the brush-frame to throw the sides of the cups to and from each other, substantially as specified.

14:. The combination, in a chocolate-coating IOO IIO

' Y v 601,217 l 5 machinepfap'ermanent frame, abrush-frame Signed at Grand Rapids, Michigan, this pivoted thereto, anda turn-table thereonhav- 29th day of May, 1894.

ing arms pivoted to and radiating from its center,andtransfercups;Withab1oWe1,c0nneGt PETER J' VANDERLINDA' y5 ing pipes and nozzle for cooling the Chocolate In vpresence ofas it', is being coated upon the centers, sub- ITHIEL J. CILLEY,

stantially as and for the purpose set forth. MYRON C. LISLE. 

